The Legend of Valentine's Day (Reframed Through Ngurrbul)
Valentine's Day has often been boxed into romance, roses, and couples. But love, true love, has always been bigger than that.
The story begins in ancient Rome with Saint Valentine, a priest who secretly performed marriages when Emperor Claudius II banned them. Valentine was imprisoned and executed, but the story endured because it wasn't really about flowers or fanfare. It was about love that refused to be extinguished.
While history has narrowed Valentine's Day into romance-only, the original legend points to something broader: a commitment to the quality of closeness between people. A belief that love, loyalty, and devotion matter, even when the world makes it hard.
In Wiradjuri Culture, that kind of closeness has a name: ngurrbul.
Grounded in the language root: ngurr (close to, side by side, leaning on), ngurrbul speaks to a deeper bond than acquaintance. It holds the "in between" relationships too: friendship, comradeship, affection, kinship, and romantic love. It also carries birrabinabirra (gentleness) and marrunbunmirra (kindness), because love that lasts is love that's practised.
That's the Valentine's Day Revolution we're here for!
Enter Galentine's Day: Celebrating Friendship (February 13th)
Galentine's Day is a modern celebration held the day before Valentine's. It honours female friendships, besties, and chosen family- a day to celebrate love and support beyond romance.
This day reminds us that love isn't only romantic. It's the laughter shared with friends, the kindness shown by sisters, the support from mentors, and the bonds that lift us up.
The Valentine's Revolution: Embracing Ngurrbul
In Wiradjuri Culture, the second most sacred value is ngurrbul, as that speaks to qualities that nurture and sustain relationships.
Why separate love into categories when the Wiradjuri language holds it all in one word?
This Valentine's season, let's reclaim the day by celebrating love in all the spaces in-between- the friendships, communities, support networks, and yes, the lovers too.
How We Celebrate Moving Forward
At Chocolate On Purpose®, we’re proud to join the Valentine’s Revolution.
We celebrate love that’s inclusive, enduring, and kind. Whether you’re gifting a lover, a bestie, a mentor, or a neighbour, your gift carries good thoughts, good words, and good deeds.
That’s why, this Valentine’s season, we’re celebrating ngurrbul - with a small ritual we can all share.
Our Ruby Pistachio Truffles carry more than flavour. They carry story.
Each truffle is layered with rose-flavoured Persian fairy floss (pashmak), a creamy pistachio butter centre, dipped in Ruby chocolate with natural berry notes, and crowned with crunchy pistachio that’s been soaked in rosewater before roasting.
Pashmak has deep roots in Persian cultural traditions, including Zoroastrian-influenced heritage- where sweetness and shared food symbolise hospitality, celebration, and care. It’s delicate, handspun, and made to be shared. A perfect metaphor for ngurrbul: closeness, connection, and love that refuses to be boxed in.
You can grab your Ruby Pistachio Truffles here ---> LINK
These truffles are our way of honouring love in all its forms. They fill the spaces in between- friendship, kinship, comradeship, and romance- holding birrabinabirra (gentleness) and marrunbunmirra (kindness) at their heart.
So whether you’re shouting “Valentines Shmalentines!” or quietly celebrating with those you hold close, we hope you’ll share ngurrbul with us this Valentine's season 💛
Viva la revolución! 🍫✨